RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — A highway safety initiative will be taking place along Route 29 beginning this Friday November 22.
The Virginia State Police reports this is part of an effort to ensure people get to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations safely.
The initiative will be taking place from Fauquier County to the North Carolina state line, which covers about 200 miles of 29.
According to a release, troopers will be targeting speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving and seat belt violations.
Over the past year, data has shown an increase in the number of crashes, especially ones involving injuries, along the highway during the month of November.
Between November 2021 and November 2023, the number of crashes went up by 17 percent, from 659 to 774, in the area covered by this enforcement initiative.
VSP reports the number of crashes with injuries surged by 43 percent over that same period, from 277 to 396.
This effort will coincide with the state of Thanksgiving break for some colleges and universities.
